The issue is not that it is a surprise that an evolutionary biologist would hold such a view; though it might be surprising these days that one would be concerned to reconcile it with Catholic teaching. The surprise is not only that OR would run an article that presents it as fact but that it would print an article by a biologist who appears to be trying to do clumsily do theology and philosophy. If CNS accurately portrays the substance of the article one must observe that this article would present neither the cautious reserve on issues of science nor the quality of philosophical and theological thought of OR in the past. This is indeed an irony. Since OR says that their function is to present the official communication organ of the Holy Father, this article seems to reflect an unprecedented violation of its stated charter.

Although now I have the giggles….

“Italian evolutionary biologist Fiorenzo Facchini” says people evolved!

Next week: Pope religious.

;^)

Thank you for the information!

I looked for the story in question and found these:

And here’s one from 06
http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0600273.htm

Maybe they did a re-run of the middle one?

Nowadays, rather than instructing the faithful, the goal of OR(as the article I’ve linked to has stated) is “to prompt thought and discussion even beyond the perimeter of the Church.” In other words, the direction of OR has changed in order to try and sell copy. Apparently, it isn’t very widely read and needed to be “spiced up” a bit. The paper is more about “dialogue” now.